Pivoting footwear systems and, configurable traction systems

ABSTRACT

A device is disclosed that traverses snow and ice covered terrain. The device includes footwear that has the ability to mount directly to a sliding device or snowshoe and pivot without the need of a mounting plate or base plate. The footwear may also be configured for use in snowboard boot retaining bindings. The footwear may have strapless and detachable crampons. Additionally, the crampons may have a coating for repelling snow and ice covering exterior surfaces of the crampon. A configurable crampon may additionally be joined to a rear portion of the footwear. Furthermore, a mounting plate with a toe cleat and heel cleat are disclosed as being removably coupled with the mounting plate able to be attached to sliding or snowshoe devices in a quick-release manner and quick connecting manner. Also disclosed is a movable traction system that may be raised and lowered through a sliding surface.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/247,893 entitled “CONFIGURABLE SNOWSHOE AND SKI DEVICE” and filed onOct. 7, 2005, U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 60/796,028entitled “CONFIGURABLE SNOWSHOE AND SKI DEVICE” and filed on Apr. 28,2006, U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 60/805,835 entitled“PIVOTING FOOTWEAR SYSTEMS AND, CONFIGURABLE TRACTION SYSTEMS” filed onJun. 26, 2006, and PCT Patent application Number PCT/US2006/039839entitled “PIVOTING FOOTWEAR SYSTEMS AND, CONFIGURABLE TRACTION SYSTEMS”filed on Oct. 10, 2006 for Lane A. Ekberg et al, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to winter sports equipment and more particularlyrelates to a winter footwear pivot system allowing transition from onebinding apparatus to another providing different modes of winter foottravel with a footwear pivot system. Also disclosed is a configurablecrampon and a strapless crampon system as well as configurable traction.

2. Description of the Related Art

Approach “randonee” climbing skiing is a popular winter sport thatprovides backcountry exploration, exercise, and entertainment. Likewise,cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding are enjoyed formany of the same reasons. In a single day, backcountry enthusiaststypically approach ski or snowshoe to their destination and return onskis, snowshoes, or snowboards. Unfortunately for such adventures,enthusiasts must pack extra equipment or heavy equipment for traversingwinter terrain. The added weight and hassle of packing up the necessarygear is an obvious disadvantage of these activities of hiking up anincline to then ski or snowboard down an incline.

A solution to the added weight and expense of extra gear, spaceconsuming gear, or heavy gear, is to offer a footwear system in whichthe boot or shoe of the user is able to mount up to an approach skisystem in a fashion wherein the footwear becomes part of the binding.Combining the footwear and the binding eliminates the need for amounting base or plate for the footwear to mount to. The footwear isthen easily removed by quick-release means. When fully released from theapproach ski the footwear can be immediately used on a snowboard bindingor other winter gear. The ski or (optional) configurable binding plate,in accordance with the present invention may be made of carbon fiberand/or other extremely lightweight materials. Prior approach skisnowboard systems have been extremely heavy to operate and areexpensive.

Approach skis are heavy and most do not accept snowboard boots. They donot pack very easily, and they do not offer multi-functions wherein theuser may quick release and attach a variety of foot binding set-ups. Asplit-board is a snowboard design which is able to split into twoapproach skis able to aid a user in climbing up an incline. When theuser desires to snowboard back down the incline they reattach the twoapproach skis forming a snowboard set-up. The problem with this systemincludes: weight, expense, does not ski well down hill, and thesnowboard does not ride as comfortably as a normal snowboard setup. Theapproach ski mode is too heavy and limits the range a user can hikebecause of fatigue.

Three current solutions exist that enable a winter enthusiast to hike upand slide down on a snowboard. The first solution is to use snowshoes upan incline and then snowboard down the incline. Snowshoes are too bulkyand do not pack well. They are also to slow in a constant up and downhike in which every small hill you must hike over the snowshoes can onlywalk down every hill instead of sliding. This method is more tiring andtime consuming. Typical snowshoe bindings also offer a flimsy footbinding that prevents the binding and the snowshoe from workingeffectively together. The second solution is using a split-board whichis very heavy, and it is very expensive. The third solution is to usecurrent approach free heel designs that are too heavy and expensive anddo not pack well.

What is needed is a device that overcomes weight, expense, and thecurrent function in the art to hike a snowboard enthusiast into thebackcountry to eventually ride the snowboard down an incline. What isneeded is a light weight device that is relatively inexpensive, easy touse, and is easy to store on a back pack when the snowboard is in use.Additionally, what is needed is a strapless, and extreme light weightfoot retention means to hold a hiking boot or snowboard boot to anapproach ski without the need of a mounting base plate. A system isneeded that eliminates foot retention hardware and straps wherein onlythe footwear the user uses acts as the binding when coupling means isplaced through the footwear.

Additionally, what is needed is a ski that has the capability to have aplurality of foot retaining mounting binding plates that arequick-release and have a variety of designs and functions. One functionthat includes a detachable ski mounting plate that includesquick-release traction cleats that sit in the heel region and in the toeregion forming a crampon with full heel to toe traction. Furthermore,detachable cleats for the mounting plate as well as snowshoes andsnowshoe ski systems need a detachable cleat that includes snow and icesticking repellent in the form of a coupled plastic piece to thecrampon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in response to the current state of the art,and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art thathave not been fully solved by current available ski, snowboard,snowshoe, their foot binding devices, and needed footwear. Accordingly,the present invention has been developed to provide pivotally equippedable footwear, a light weight climbing approach ski system, and a heelto toe detachable traction for a ski foot binding device or snowshoebinding system in response to needed gear not yet available or developedfor backcountry snowboarders, snowshoers, and skiers.

The device may include a base for traversing over snow and ice coveredterrain, a removable axis (axle) rotatably coupling footwear from groupconsisting of, snowboard boots, hiking boots, shoes, soft-shell,hard-shell boots, and footwear able to be used on snow and ice.Additionally, an optional mounting plate may attach and detached fromthe base member in place of the pivotally equipped footwear and the areafrom the heel to toe of the mounting plate may receive quick-attachingcleat traction in separate parts. This traction may also quick-releasefrom the mounting plate. In another embodiment, the sole of the footwearhas a hole running through the sole allowing an axle to be placedthrough the sole allowing rotatable coupling means of the footwearconsisting from the group of snowboard boots, hiking boots, shoes,soft-shell, hard-shell boots, and all footwear able to be used in snowand ice and attaches to any device that traverses snow and ice coveredterrain and holds a human foot.

In another embodiment the pivoting footwear is coupled to an approachski with an axle running through the base of the footwear allowingforward walking and climbing motion. The pivoting footwear can bequick-released by moving the axle (axis) from its locked position in thesole of the footwear when the approach ski is no longer needed. Thereleased footwear may now be placed in a snowboard binding for asnowboard descent down an incline. The footwear thus described wouldtypically be a snowboard boot, ski boot, and the like with an axis holethrough its sole to allow optional coupling means to an approach ski orsnowshoe.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises pivoting means in thefootwear with attaching means to an approach ski. The approach skis whenfree from the said footwear by quick-release means can be placedtogether with ski against ski so that each ski is fitted to the otherski for easy pack storage. Securing means may be present to hold theskis together to form a compact object for easy storage.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a boot with pivoting means inthe sole construction and a locking feature in the heel of the footwearthat may lock the heel. The heel can be optionally locked if the freeheel motion is not wanted. In one instance the heel can be locked if theuser intends to ski down an incline with the desire to have theheellocked thus the device can be used in a variety of skiing methods.

The device may also comprise a climbing skin that can be used on the skito allow traction up a congealed precipitated incline. The climbing skinfitted to the base of the ski in a permanent or non-permanent manner.Other traction means may also be applied to the ski base in alternativeski base constructions including bases that accept metal tractionmounted through them or on them.

Another embodiment of the device comprises a ski for traversing oversnow and ice that contains attaching means on the ski surface area forfootwear that has pivoting means and retention means in the sole of theboot Furthermore, the said ski has heel retention means built in the skisurface area to limit or stop footwear pivoting when the footwear ismounted to the ski device.

Another embodiment of the device includes footwear with tractionmounting to areas in the surface area of the footwear. When the footwearis released from the ski it is able to accept traction mounted into thesole of the footwear. Traction mounting areas may be located in the heelarea, the toe area, and in between. In one method the footwear isreleased from the ski by removing the pivot axle (axis) freeing space inthe sole of the footwear to allow traction to be mounted in that samespace or traction may be mounted in a strapless manner on the toe andball of the foot region of the footwear. The heel area of the footwearis also capable of accepting attaching traction. Thus, the locking andpivoting areas in the sole of winter footwear can be used in a pluralityof ways including mounting footwear to a ski or snowshoe and the samefootwear bottom can accept crampons where the boot can now climb ice andsnow covered terrain.

A further embodiment included a foot plate with two quick-release cleatportions in the front half of the mounting plate and heel part of themounting plate. The heel cleat when released can also be used assnowshoe cleat traction quickly attaching to the base of a snowshoe.Additionally, the cleats may have plastic coupled to the cleat toprevent snow and ice build-up.

Another embodiment included in the disclosure is movable traction thatis able to raise and lower through a sliding surface providing tractionwhen lowered and sliding when raised. A further embodiment of tractionin the device is traction that mounts to the bottom of a ski or on thesliding surface side of the apparatus.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention may be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view diagram illustrating one embodiment of footwear inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view diagram illustrating one embodiment of pivotingfootwear and its plurality of uses including that of an approach ski anda snowboard in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a ski inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view illustrating an alternative embodimentof footwear in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view illustrating one embodiment of amounting plate that has a quick-release toe cleat portion and couplingsystem and a quick-release heel cleat portion and coupling system inaccordance with the present;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view illustrating pivoting footwear on skiand snowshoe devices and a strapless toe crampon device in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view illustrating snowshoe pivotallymountable footwear in accordance with the present invention footwearwith approach ski means and snowshoe pivot means in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view illustrating one embodiment ofpivotally mountable footwear with a spring loaded axis in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of a winter devicethat uses pivotally mountable footwear in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment a sliding deviceand a bottom plan view of pivotally mountable footwear in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view illustrating one embodiment ofpivoting footwear and a strapless toe and the ball of the foot cramponsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view illustrating ski devices and pivotingfootwear in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view and side perspective view illustrating asliding and snowshoe device that accepts pivoting footwear, climbingskins, and foot binding plates in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a side perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a heelto toe traction and configurable crampon system able to split into afront strapless toe under the ball of the foot crampon and a rearportion of a foot crampon (heel crampon) in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating traction that can be raisedand lowered through a sliding surface in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of theconfigurable mounting plate through the plane pivot of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of theconfigurable mounting plate top pivot of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view diagram illustrating one embodimentof the spiked traction binding strap in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a top perspective view illustrating one embodiment of thepointed traction strap in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 20 is several perspective views illustrating an embodiment ofdetaching and attaching traction through the base of the ski inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 21 is several perspective views of an embodiment illustratingretracting traction and recessed traction on a mounting plate inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a top perspective view diagram illustrating a multipivotingski in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a side perspective view illustrating footwear including aboot that is configured with multi-pivot axis points for a variety offoot placement on a winter device in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areprovided in order to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention may be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view diagram illustrating one embodiment offootwear 10 and toe pivot 77. In one embodiment the footwear 10 isconfigured to accept an axle 51 (axis) in accordance with the presentinvention. In one embodiment, the footwear 10 may secure a users foot bythe use of laces 57, Velcro (not shown), or ski buckles (not shown). Theheel portion 25 of the footwear 10 can be locked to retard or stop thepivoting motion. The footwear 10 may be in the form of a hiking boot,snowboard boot, or shoe with a single pivot toe pivot 77 in the toeregion of the footwear allowing the footwear to pivot on a ski orsnowshoe device.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view illustrating sliding devices includinga snowboard 15, snowboard bindings 23, approach skis 31, and toepivoting 77 footwear 10. In one embodiment, the pivoting footwear 10 canbe removed from the approach ski 31 by moving the axle 51 from itslocked position allowing the footwear 10 to release from the approachski 31 in a quick-release manner. When the footwear 10 is released itmay be placed in the snowboard binding 23 if the footwear is a snowboardboot. The approach skis 31 can be fitted together and stowed away in aback pack allowing the user to freely use the snowboard 15 with thepivotally equipped footwear 10.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating approach ski 31 sliding devicesthat use pivotally quick mountable footwear in accordance with thepresent invention. Toe pivot slots 20 allow either one setting (notshown) or a plurality of settings as illustrated by slots 20. Aplurality of pivot slots 20 allow different sizes of footwear 10 as wellas a comfortable adjustment on the sliding ski device.

The approach ski 31 may include a heel lift 17 to maintain a properskiing platform. The heel lift may also include a footwear heel lock 51mounted to the top side of the approach ski (not shown). Also, anadjustable heel lift may be used to relieve stress on the calve musclewhen climbing inclines. The axle 52 may be stored on the sliding device2 when the footwear 10 is removed from the sliding device 2.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view illustrating footwear 90 that containsa toe pivot 77 which allows a pivoting approach ski and a snowshoe pivot64 that allows a pivot in a snowshoe style. The snowshoe pivot 64 allowsthe toe of the footwear 90 to pivot through the device it is mounted towith axle 51. The heel lock 25 may be used to lock the heel of thefootwear 90 to the sliding device or snowshoe (not shown). The straplesstoe crampon lock hole 121 is located on both sides of the footwear andretains the spring loaded pin which holds in place the strapless toecrampon 92 (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 13).

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view illustrating a platform for footwearcalled a mounting plate 59 that has a toe cleat 18 system that maycouple to the mounting plate 59. The toe cleat 18 system consists of aspring loaded pin 137 to couple the toe cleat to the foot plate and aplurality of cleats 110 for traction. The toe cleat 18 system can beused together with a heel portion of traction by attaching the heelcleat 12 and the toe cleat 18 traction to the mounting plate 59. Aspring loaded pin 138 located on the heel cleat 12 is used to couple theheel cleat to the mounting plate 59 or a snowshoe, cleat ski, orsnowshoe ski hybrid (not shown). When the heel cleat 12 isquick-released from the mounting plate 59, the heel cleat 12 can bequickly attached to a snowshoe or a snowshoe ski hybrid device (notshown) for traction.

The toe cleat 18 may also be used when the mounting plate 59 is attachedto a snowshoe or hybrid snowshoe ski. Foot coupling straps may bolt tonut and bolt holes 160. The mounting plate heel area may lock byengaging heel lock hole 109 which prevents mounting plate from pivotingallowing the heel portion to move up and down. Also, disclosed is aplastic cleat piece 210 that couples to the toe cleat 18 or heel cleat12 by coupling means 208 and coupling means 207. The plastic cleat coverrepels snow and ice build-up on the metal quick-release cleats. When thetoe cleat 18 and the heel cleat 12 are quick-released from the footmounting plate 59 they may be detachably coupled (222) to one anotherwith the spring loaded pin 137 holding them together for easy packstorage. A plastic snow repellent guard may also be placed on a metalversion of the mounting plate. (See FIG. 6 and Fig. B).

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view illustrating the snowshoe ski hybrid80 using footwear 90 with a multi-pivoting system built in to thefootwear 90. The toe pivot 77 allows the device to become an approachski when the toe pivot 77 is locked in place with the toe pivot hole 20on the device with axle axis 51. The snowshoe pivot 60 and 64 allows thefootwear 90 to pivot through the plane of the device allowing the springloaded strapless toe crampon system 92 and cleats 44 to grip snow andice. The climbing skin 33 may be used when the ski mode is configured.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view illustrating one embodiment of asingle snowshoe axis pivot 64 on footwear 81 in accordance with thepresent invention. This system can only be used on a snowshoe (Notshown) or devices that are hybrid snowshoe skis 200. Footwear 81 may bea shoe, boot, or snowboard boot. (See FIG. 12).

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view illustrating one embodiment ofpivoting footwear 80 that uses a “footwear spring loaded axis axle 99technology”, The footwear spring loaded axis 99 retracts and expands toallow the footwear to quickly attach or detach from the device thefootwear is mounting or dismounting to. A mechanism manipulates therelease and lock sequence of the footwear spring loaded axis axle 99.The footwear spring loaded axis axle 99 may be mounted to approach skisand snowshoes (Not shown) which may have a plurality of mount settings.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view illustrating a spring loaded axis axle 85built into the device 2. The device may be a foot mounting Plate, ski,snowshoe ski hybrid, or a snowshoe able to receive footwear thatcontains pivoting technology built in accordance with the presentinvention. In a further embodiment, the drawstring 29 manipulates anopen or closed position of the spring loaded axis axle 85.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view illustrating sliding devices or snowshoes 2and bottom plan views of footwear soles 23 and 71. In one embodiment,the sliding device or snowshoe 2 includes a fixed axle 84 that sole 71mounts to by means of a groove 93 with groove locks (not shown). Thefixed axle 84 may be moved to holes 76 to change the position offootwear pivoting.

In another embodiment, the footwear 71 may have one or more axle axesthat footwear 71 can mount or dismount to in a quick fashion. The siderail 66 may be present wherein axis fittings are located. The side railmay be included in all of the foot pivoting embodiments in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of pivotally mountable footwear 90that has a strapless toe crampon 92 attached and fitted under the ballof the foot. The strapless toe crampon 92 is held to footwear by abutton tab 154 and spring loaded pins 125. The crampon also includes aplurality of cleat traction 44 to grip snow and ice. The strapless toecrampon may be released with the spring loaded release pins 125. Whenthe snowshoe pivot 64 is being utilized in the footwear 90 on certainsnowshoe ski hybrids and snowshoes then the toe crampon 92 is used. Toform a conventional crampon the footwear is released from the devicewith the toe crampon attached to the footwear and the heel crampon 9 canbe attached to the front toe crampon 98. (See FIG. 5 and FIG. 14).

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of two pivotally mountable footwearmodes. In one embodiment the footwear can pivot at the toe using pivothole 20. When the user desires to lock the heel the heel lock 39 isengaged into heel portion 25 of the footwear. In another embodiment thefootwear is pivoting in the snowshoe pivot 60 with the strapless toecrampon 92 attached. The rear detachable crampon 12 is used to providefurther traction when in the snowshoe mode. The rear detachable cramponfits on the surface area of the snowshoe, snowshoe ski hybrid, or skithat contacts the snow and may be locked and unlocked with lock 39.

Sliding winter device 80 shows a movable portion 65 which pivotingfootwear may rotate through when the portion 65 is opened. Slidingwinter device 31 shows a typical ski sliding surface in which thepivoting footwear can also be used with when mounted to pivoting holes20 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is several perspective views illustrating equipment that is usedin conjunction with pivoting footwear 90. The footwear 90 has pivotholes 77 for approach skiing. The footwear 90 has snowshoe pivot holes64 for snowshoe style pivoting. The pivot equipped footwear is mountedto any of the pivoting style holes by inserting an axis axle 51 into thepivot position 20 or 60 on the ski, snowshoe ski hybrid, or snowshoedevice, and locking the axis axle in to place by inserting a cotter pin16. A c-clamp 61 may also be used. A climbing skin 33 may be included inany number of climbing configurations that include pivotally mountablefootwear. Pivoting footwear equipped skis, snowshoe ski hybrids, andsnowshoes may also optionally use a mounting plate. Rear lock 39 locksattachable cleat traction and also locks the heel of pivoting footwearand the heel of a mounting plate. A further embodiment shows cleattraction 12 able to mount to the bottom surface of a ski 80 on theportion that faces the terrain.

FIG. 14 is a side perspective view illustrating an embodiment of aseparate strapless toe crampon system and a separate heel crampon systemjoined to form a complete heel to toe traction crampon system 98 inaccordance with the present invention. The strapless toe crampon may bejoined to the heel crampon 104 by using coupling strap 101 andconnecting coupling strap 101 to toe crampon loop 114 forming aconventional heel to toe crampon system 98. Strap positioner 132 builtin to the footwear 90 encourages the heel crampon portion to stay firmon the footwear 90. The heel crampon 104 has downward pointing tractioncleats 42 as well as heel coupling means to the footwear 90.

FIG. 15 shows perspective views of an embodiment of movable traction 355that can be raised and lowered through ski slots 370 sliding surface 367forming friction enhancement when lowered and friction decrease whenraised. Toothed traction 391 is one embodiment of traction means. Themoveable traction 355 is raised and lowered on traction hinge 379 andthe movable traction is locked with the movable traction lock hole 380when a metal axle 51 is placed through it.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view diagram of a mounting plate axis 1602 ableto pivot a configurable mounting plate 1604 through the snowshoe skihybrid 80 by moving front mounting plate portion 1606 outward rotatingon the configurable mounting plate 1604 portion axis 1608. The frontquick-release mounting plate traction 1610 can be attached to mountingplate by moving the mounting plate traction lock lever 1612 into slot1614. A portion of the ski hybrid 80 (See FIG. 6) must be opened and inthis configuration the sliding device can climb similarly to a snowshoeand the configurable mounting plate can also be used as a separateclimbing device when released from the ski. The heel of the configurablemounting plate 1604 can be locked or unlocked by moving the heel lock1616 to open or closed position.

FIG. 17 is a perspective diagram view of a mounting plate pivot axis1602 able to pivot the mounting plate 1604 above the sliding device bymoving the front mounting plate portion 1606 inward by rotating on theconfigurable mounting plate 1604 portion axis 1616. In thisconfiguration the sliding device can climb like an approach ski withskins (not shown) with the configurable mounting plate 1604 pivoting onthe top side of the hybrid ski. The configurable mounting plate 1604 canlock so that the mounting plate cannot not move by locking heel lock1616.

FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a mounting plate strap1800 used for mounting boots, shoes, and various footwear to a slidingdevice, non-sliding winter foot travel, or snowshoe. The strap containspointed strap traction 1802 facing into the boot or shoe which holds theboot on the device in a non-slip manner. The traction strap can bemounted to a wide variety of winter foot transportation devices bycoupling means and to mounting plate holes 1804. This type of strap alsoallows a single strap set-up instead of the standard multiple strapsystems found on snowboard bindings and some snowshoes.

FIG. 19 is a top view diagram illustrating the strap buckle system 1806which is used to couple the straps together and may even include aratchet system. The binding holes 1808 provide coupling means to awinter foot travel device.

FIG. 20 is several perspective views of a configurable ski 2000 that mayhave traction 2002 mounted through a slot or opening 2001 in the ski2000 with the traction being locked into place by the use of a lock2004. The ski 2000 may have a hole 2006 through its base to allow themounting plate to rotate through or in a second option it may rotateonly above the plane of a typical ski 2000.

FIG. 21 illustrates two perspective views illustrating retractable orfoldable traction 2102 on a mounting plate or binding. The tractionretracts into a recess. The mounting plate 2104 for the retaining thefoot of the user contains retracting traction 2102. The retractedmounting plate traction position 2106 and extended traction position2108 eliminate the need for removable quick-release mounting platetraction as another option. The traction rotates on traction axis 2110.The mounting plate includes holes 2112 for coupling straps to themounting plate 2104. It must be noted that the retracting tractionsystem can also be used on other type device bindings and mountingplates as well and would be obvious to one skilled in the art to utilizeretracting traction cleats on other winter foot bindings and mountingplate devices not named in this disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view diagram illustrating a configurable ski2200 with a plurality of axis pivots 2202 in which to pivot the mountingplate or boot 2204 (See FIG. 23). The axle 2206 can be removed byreleasing the locking pin 2208 and allowing the axle to be placed in anyof the plurality of axis pivots 2202 on the configurable ski 2200. Themounting plate may also have a plurality of pivots as well to have awide range in which the user can customize the set up in a snowshoestyle pivot or an approach “randonee” style pivot dependent on hischoice of setting the axle (axis) 2210 and locking it in place with thelocking pin 2208.

FIG. 23 is a side perspective view illustrating foot wear or a boot 2204with a plurality of axis pivot points 2302 allowing the position ofpivoting determined in the boot 2204 apparatus. This particular set upoffers an alternative to a multi-pivoting mounting plate and aconfigurable mounting plate in which the boot 2204 with a plurality ofpivoting can achieve the same task of coupling a user in a plurality ofpivot positions customizing the pivot for approach skiing or snowshoeingetc. In another embodiment the foot ware or boot 2204 may contain only asingle pivot in the sole (not shown).

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A device for traversing over snow and ice covered terrain, the devicecomprising: a ski with a mechanism that can removably couple footweardirectly to the ski engaging at least one outside perimeter of footwearand at least one are directly on the ski to releasably couple thefootwear to the ski.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a skiwhich has a mounting area for the said footwear and the footwearcontaining a pivotal mounting axis in its surface area.
 3. The device ofclaim 2, further comprising a footwear that has at least one axis topivot on a the ski.
 4. The device of claim 2, further comprisingpivotally equipped footwear in its surface area that may be mounted to asnowshoe that is configured to accept pivotally equipped footwear andpivot with the heel of the footwear moving in an upward and downwardmotion without the use of a mounting plate for the footwear to rest on.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the footwear is able to mount directlyto a plurality of apparatuses that traverse over snow and ice coveredterrain without the use of a base plate or mounting plate.
 6. The deviceof claim 2, wherein a snowboard boot may have optional locking meansbuilt in the sole preventing the heel from moving in an up and downmotion.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein the footwear may have optionallocking means in the heel to prevent the pivoting the heel from movingup and down.
 8. The device of claim 2, wherein the ski has a pluralityof axes attachment holes.
 9. The device of claim 5, wherein the footwearcan detachably mount to a group consisting of a snowshoe, ski, snowshoeski hybrid and split-board by means of at least one spring loadedpivotally equipped detachably coupled axis.
 10. The device of claim 1,wherein the pivot axis attachment hardware consists of an apparatus thatmay move through the perimeter of the footwear sole and device thefootwear is coupling to.
 11. The device of claim 4, wherein the footwearcontains a snowshoe pivot mounting area and an approach ski pivotmounting area in the same footwear.
 12. The device of claim 4, wherein astrapless toe crampon containing traction cleats and coupling means ableto mount to the front half of footwear in a quick-attach manner and alsoa quick-release manner.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein aindependently functional strapless toe crampon under the ball of thefoot toe containing traction cleats and coupling means can optionallycouple to a heel crampon portion containing traction cleats and couplingmeans forming one conventional crampon unit
 14. The device of claim 5,wherein the footwear has at least one axis mounting hole through thesole in which an axle may move through to mount the foot in a pivotallyequipped position or an unlocked position in which the axle may movethrough the axis mounting hole allowing the footwear to be dismountedand mounted to the group consisting of a ski, snowshoe, crampon, andsnowshoe ski hybrid.
 15. The device of claim 4, wherein the snowboardboot has at least one pivotal axis in its surface area which to mountallowing the heel to move up and down.
 16. The device of claim 5,wherein the footwear can be manufactured for the group consisting of asnowboard boot, hiking boot, or shoe.
 17. The device of claim 16,wherein the devices for traversing over snow and ice from the groupconsisting of a snowshoe, ski, snowboard, crampon, snowshoe ski hybrid,and mounting plate are equipped to accept mounted footwear with at leastone pivotally equipped axis built into the footwear.
 18. The device ofclaim 2, wherein at least one ski pivot axis located on the ski isspring loaded and may be manipulated from open to close modes and usesfootwear that has pivoting means in the surface area of the footwear.19. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spring loaded pivot axisis located in the snowboard boot design.
 20. The device of claim 1,wherein the snowboard boot axis may be locked or unlocked in aquick-release quick-attach fashion from a group consisting of asnowshoe, ski, crampon, split-board, and snowshoe ski hybrid.
 21. Thedevice of claim 20, wherein the pivotally enabled detachably coupledaxis may be found on the surface area of footwear from the groupconsisting of a snowboard boot, shoe, or hiking boot, and may be lockedor unlocked in a quick-release manner from the group consisting of asnowshoe, crampon, snowshoe ski hybrid, or split-board.
 22. A device fortraversing over snow and ice covered terrain, the device comprising:footwear having a surface area to protect a human foot; and, a pivotaxis in the design of the footwear enabling the footwear to pivot on apivoting axis system within its own surface area creating an upward anddownward motion of the foot wear heel; and, detachable coupling meansfor the footwear directly to and from the surface of the device thatmoves over snow and ice.
 23. A mounting plate for winter footwear to bemounted to; and: a front traction portion that is detachable andattachable in a quick-release manner under the ball of the foot regionof the mounting plate; and, a rear heel traction portion of the mountingplate that is detachable and attachable in a quick release manner.